St James' Hospital Leeds police incident: Hospital issues patient update as bomb squad investigates

Army bomb disposal experts are on site and a police cordon remains in place as investigations continue. West Yorkshire Police earlier confirmed that emergency services were dealing with a suspicious package incident outside the Gledhow Wing of the hospital in Beckett Street.

The force said a cordon had been put in place as a precautionary measure for public safety while officers liaised with Army specialists called in to make an assessment in line with normal procedures. Members of the public have been asked to avoid the entrance to the Gledhow Wing at this time.

Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust has now issued a statement with advice for patients and confirmed that its A&E department at St James’ remains open.

It said: “Emergency services are currently dealing with a suspicious package incident outside the Gledhow Wing at St James’s Hospital. A cordon has been put in place as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and we have been working with the police to evacuate some ward areas to keep our patients and staff safe.

“Patients are being asked to attend hospital as normal for appointments, unless they are contacted otherwise. Visiting for patients who are currently in Gledhow Wing and Lincoln Wing at St James’s Hospital is suspended until we have more information. Accident & Emergency at St James's is still open.

“Please avoid the entrance to the Gledhow Wing at this time. Access to the hospital will be through Alma Street (Bexley entrance) or Gledhow Road.”

In a further update, the hospital announced that it has set up a helpline – 0113 206 6261 – for patients and families with concerns or queries. Anyone with questions is being asked to call this number rather than phoning wards directly.

Patients who had planned to attend for walk-in GP bloods today are being advised that the service is unavailable due to an ongoing incident. Alternative services are available at other hospitals in the city.

Meanwhile, maternity services are open and accepting patients at the Leeds General Infirmary site. Patients are being told not to attend the St James's site unless they have been contacted and asked to do so. Anyone with urgent concerns should call Maternity Assessment Centre on 0113 392 6731 prior to attending.

Maternity patients with an appointment planned today (January 20) at St James's should have been contacted by the hospital’s teams and rescheduled. There is also a temporary contact number – 0113 206 5212 – for non-urgent maternity concerns regarding future appointments or future attendances.

- See our live blog for the latest updates from the hospital trust and police.